Since thou wert impotent (to commit sin), on account of what is thy repentance? Inquire concerning impotence, by whose pull (exertion of power) is it (produced)?
چون بدی عاجز پشیمانی ز چیست ** عاجزی را باز جو کز جذب کیست
No one has seen impotence in the world without power, nor will it (ever) be (so). Know this (for sure).
عاجزی بیقادری اندر جهان ** کس ندیدست و نباشد این بدان
Similarly, (with) every desire that thou cherishest, thou art debarred from (perceiving) its faultiness;
همچنین هر آرزو که میبری ** تو ز عیب آن حجابی اندری
And if the viciousness of that desire had been shown, thy soul of its own accord would have recoiled from seeking (to gratify it).1350
ور نمودی علت آن آرزو ** خود رمیدی جان تو زان جست و جو
If He (God) had shown unto thee the faultiness of that work, no one, dragging (thee) along (by force), would have taken thee in that direction;
گر نمودی عیب آن کار او ترا ** کس نبردی کش کشان آن سو ترا
And (as regards) that other work from which thou art exceedingly averse, the reason is that its faultiness has come into clear view.
وان دگر کار کز آن هستی نفور ** زان بود که عیبش آمد در ظهور
O God who knowest the secret and who art gracious in speech, do not hide from us the faultiness of the evil work;
ای خدای رازدان خوشسخن ** عیب کار بد ز ما پنهان مکن
(And) do not show unto us the faultiness of the good work, lest we become cold (disgusted) and distracted from journeying (in the Way).
عیب کار نیک را منما به ما ** تا نگردیم از روش سرد و هبا
According to that (aforesaid) habit, the exalted Solomon went into the Mosque in the brightness (of dawn).1355
هم بر آن عادت سلیمان سنی ** رفت در مسجد میان روشنی
The king was seeking (to observe) the daily rule of seeing the new plants in the Mosque.
قاعدهی هر روز را میجست شاه ** که ببیند مسجد اندر نو گیاه
The heart with that pure eye (which it possesses) sees occultly the (spiritual) herbs that are invisible to the vulgar.
دل ببیند سر بدان چشم صفی ** آن حشایش که شد از عامه خفی
Story of the Súfí who, head on knee, was engaged in (spiritual) meditation in the garden: his friends said to him, "Lift up thy head and enjoy the garden and the sweet herbs and the birds and the marks of the mercy of God most High."
قصهی صوفی کی در میان گلستان سر به زانو مراقب بود یارانش گفتند سر برآور تفرج کن بر گلستان و ریاحین و مرغان و آثار رحمةالله تعالی
In the orchard a certain Súfí laid his face in Súfí fashion upon his knee for the sake of (mystical) revelation;
صوفیی در باغ از بهر گشاد ** صوفیانه روی بر زانو نهاد
Then he sank deep down into himself. An impertinent fellow was annoyed by his semblance of slumber.
پس فرو رفت او به خود اندر نغول ** شد ملول از صورت خوابش فضول
“Why,” said he, “dost thou sleep? Nay, look at the vines, behold these trees and marks (of Divine mercy) and green plants.1360
که چه خسپی آخر اندر رز نگر ** این درختان بین و آثار و خضر
Hearken to the command of God, for He hath said, ‘Look ye’: turn thy face towards these marks of (Divine) mercy.”
امر حق بشنو که گفتست انظروا ** سوی این آثار رحمت آر رو
He replied, “O man of vanity, its marks are (within) the heart: that (which is) without is only the marks of the marks.”
گفت آثارش دلست ای بوالهوس ** آن برون آثار آثارست و بس
The (real) orchards and verdure are in the very essence of the soul: the reflexion thereof upon (that which is) without is as (the reflexion) in running water.
باغها و سبزهها در عین جان ** بر برون عکسش چو در آب روان
In the water there is (only) the phantom (reflected image) of the orchard, which quivers on account of the subtle quality of the water.
آن خیال باغ باشد اندر آب ** که کند از لطف آب آن اضطراب
The (real) orchards and fruits are within the heart: the reflexion of their beauty is (falling) upon this water and earth (the external world).1365
باغها و میوهها اندر دلست ** عکس لطف آن برین آب و گلست
If it were not the reflexion of that delectable cypress, then God would not have called it the abode of deception.
گر نبودی عکس آن سرو سرور ** پس نخواندی ایزدش دار الغرور
This deception is (consists in) that: i.e. this phantom (the external world) exists (derives its existence) from the reflexion of the heart and spirit of the (holy) men.
این غرور آنست یعنی این خیال ** هست از عکس دل و جان رجال
All the deceived ones come to (gaze on) this reflexion in the opinion that this is the place of Paradise.
جمله مغروران برین عکس آمده ** بر گمانی کین بود جنتکده
They are fleeing from the origins of the orchards; they are making merry over a phantom.
میگریزند از اصول باغها ** بر خیالی میکنند آن لاغها
When their heedless sleep comes to an end, they see truly— but what use is that sight (to them)?1370
چونک خواب غفلت آیدشان به سر ** راست بینند و چه سودست آن نظر
Then in the graveyard arises uproar and lament: on account of this mistake (they cry) “alas” till the Resurrection.
بس به گورستان غریو افتاد و آه ** تا قیامت زین غلط وا حسرتاه